NOTE: Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on or the archive of the shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns and the results of the weekend. On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

The first couple of league games have been played and two things stand out.

(1) The refs are far more interested in getting free drinks at the local bar after the game than in calling a fair game. They are homers. I am not sure if they are getting influenced by the crowd or just in fear for their lives. Either way the home team is getting WAY too high a percentage of the calls.

(2) WreslingBall is alive and well in the Big10. Part of the reason that the middle and lower level teams in the league have not done well in the NCAA Tournament is they are used to “no blood no foul” officiating. While the top teams can adjust to the different style, lower teams struggle with it.

I remember when Ohio State went to Minnesota then coached by Bill Musselman. When the Gofers fell behind they started a brawl that put some Buckeyes in the hospital. That was on the Musselman. If it happens again it will be on the league and the refs. When you allow that level of physical play without a foul you invite an escalation of violence. That is not good for the player, the schools or the league.

Of course no one in the Ivory Towers of the league will listen. However, in the long term the bad or one sided officiating will hurt the legitimacy of the product.

That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.

You can listen to the podcasts at http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and hear NNR Live Mondays and Fridays at 6PM Eastern time on . The Monday show is a review of the previous week and the Browns game. The Friday show previews the upcoming games.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .

News, Notes & Rumors 03-17-2013 David Kay – Dave, the basketball Guru for Walterfootball.com, and I previewed the NCAA Brackets and Ohio States’ chances of winning it all.

News, Notes & Rumors 03-25-2013 John Turvey – John, the draft analyst for theHuddle.com, and I talked about all aspects of the NFL Draft.

News, Notes & Rumors 03-27-2013 Ken Becks – Ken, the owner of 1stdownscouting.com/1st down, and I talked about the Browns needs, the top prospects and the top 10 picks we expect to be made in the draft.

Thanks to all our guests and good listening.

The podcasts and be heard at http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro football teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

Howard Bloom of sportsbusinessnews.com joins us to discuss the NHL Lockout.

Cleveland sports legend Bob Karlovec joins us to talk about the Browns loss to the Colts.

Dave Kay basketball writer for Walterfootball.com joins us to tal

CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 26: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Jose Calderon #8 of the Toronto Raptors as he brings the ball up court during the season opener at Quicken Loans Arena on December 26, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

k Cavs and the top 25 in college basketball.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

The College Presidents’ Oversight Committee has approved a four team seeded playoff. It is WAY overdue.

It is hard to understand why it took the ivy covered college presidents so long to realize their dream of squeezing more money out of the sport of football. Any form of playoff would automatically generate a lot more money than the BcS ever did. While this plan is a major step forward, I still have a lot of questions.

My first question is why did this take so long? We hear that the Bowl system had to be protected. Who among us did not shed a tear when the Poulan Weedeater Bowl went belly up? I have more to say about the Bowls later. But when a team must only win 6 games to qualify, how important can the bowl be?

Then there was the argument that a playoff would negatively impact the student-athletes. But those same educators have no issues with the basketball players missing 3 weeks of school for the NCAA basketball championships. And those require teams to visit 3 different cities.

Second it will not start until the 2014. WHY? Because none of the supporters of the BcS can admit it was a quick fix that lived far beyond its useful life, we are stuck with it for another couple of miserable seasons.

Third, will Notre Dame leadership please excuse themselves from any discussion of college football playoffs. ND has not been a factor for years. It is not likely to be a factor any time soon despite hiring a really good head coach. They have their own deal with NBC. But other than an occasional game against a football power in which they are regularly crushed, their schedule includes a lot of games against the Sisters of the Perpetually Miserable. They have no business having a voice in this decision.

Next, where is the money going? These are public universities supported in part by taxpayer money. We, the tax paying public, have a right to full disclosure on what is done with the money. The current bowl system is riddled with problems.

Many schools that go to lower level bowls lose money. That is right they lose money. The bowls require a school to buy between 35 and 45% of the tickets. When the school’s fan base is less than thrilled to be going to the Podunk bowl in outer Nowhereville, the payout for the bowl falls short of covering the ticket cost, let alone the cost of taking the team and equipment, or the cost of housing and food.

In addition there are reports of bowl executives being over paid and the charities that the bowl is supposed to support getting a small percentage of the total income. Every state has laws limiting the percentage they can take of money generated. Bowls are under no such restrictions.

Perhaps the biggest question is how will the final four teams be selected? We are told it will be a combination of a computer system and a committee of “experts.” We will not know who will make those picks or how the computer system will rank the teams for a while. I have one piece of advice for the NCAA. Whatever system they design must be transparent. Make the votes of the committee public. Publish a clear account of the factors involved in the computer system and the weight assigned to each.

That’s what I think. What do you think?

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. Join Bill and his guests for some of the best Sports Talk anywhere on the Internet on News, Notes and Rumors Monday-Friday 6-7:30 PM EDT on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ or http://mooheadradio.com/2.0/.You can be part of the show by calling our SportSims.net Hotline at 216-539-0607.

Tony Williams, Knicks and Giants beat writer for Metro New York Paper, joins us to talk national sports.

Dave Kay basketball guru for waterfootball joins us to preview the NBA Draft.

Our NNR Sportsims.net football league will start in June. The league is free to our listeners and readers. Email me at [email protected] to register. The draft order will be determined by the date of registration.

NNR at 6PM EDT follows the Moohead show at 5PM on http://mooheadradio.com/2.0/. Press the Green arrow at 6 for NNR.

Be part of the show by calling our SportSims.com hotline at 216-539-0607.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com and was a senior writer for . He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

Be part of the show by calling our SportSims.com hotline at 216-539-0607.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com and was a senior writer for . He has also published several novels onand a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.